Veterans of every generation find their stride in adaptive sports
The Department of Veterans Affairs has committed $16 million to expand adaptive sports programming, reinforcing its dedication to helping disabled veterans stay active regardless of age, era of service, or type of disability. This investment aims to broaden access to programs like the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, which recently concluded its 40th year with nearly 320 veteran participants at Snowmass, Colorado.
The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic stands as the world's largest rehabilitative event of its kind, specifically designed for veterans with profound disabilities including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, visual impairments, amputations, multiple sclerosis, and other severe conditions. Participants engage in adaptive skiing, sled hockey, scuba diving, rock wall climbing, and educational activities that challenge them to overcome perceived limitations. The clinic represents just one component of VA's broader adaptive sports and recreation initiative, which operates through various medical centers nationwide to connect veterans with physical activities tailored to their abilities.
Veterans from all generations and service eras participate in these programs, as demonstrated by two clinic attendees whose experiences highlight the program's reach. Harold Eugene Brown, 84, drafted during the Vietnam War era and living with reduced vision, attended his second Winter Sports Clinic and receives ongoing care at the Lebanon VA Medical Center in Pennsylvania. Phillip Wotton, 23, paralyzed after a 2024 diving accident, discovered adaptive sports through his care team at the Miami VA Medical Center during his first clinic attendance. Both veterans, despite nearly six decades separating them, found the same benefits: renewed independence, physical engagement, and connection to a supportive community.
VA Under Secretary for Health John J. Bartrum visited Snowmass during the recent clinic, observing veterans participating in fly fishing, Nordic and Alpine skiing, sled hockey, and other adaptive events. He emphasized that adaptive sports represent the convergence of physical, mental, and spiritual health, essential not just for healing but for thriving. Bartrum committed to continuing support for these events while seeking ways to improve and expand opportunities across VA's adaptive sports program, a promise backed by the recent $16 million funding commitment.
For disabled veterans, adaptive sports programs offer more than recreation—they provide structured pathways to regain physical confidence, mental resilience, and social connection that disability or injury may have disrupted. These programs complement traditional medical care and rehabilitation services, addressing the whole-person wellness that many veterans need to transition successfully after service-connected injuries or conditions. The investment signals VA's recognition that recovery extends beyond clinical treatment to include activities that restore a sense of capability and purpose.
Veterans interested in adaptive sports should discuss options with their VA care teams, as many medical centers can facilitate introductions to local and national programs. Those specifically interested in the Winter Sports Clinic can review qualifications and applications for the 2027 event, though veterans should start conversations with their providers well in advance to ensure proper preparation and coordination. Veterans facing challenges can also contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 988, then press 1, or visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for confidential support from qualified responders, many of whom are veterans themselves.